Stix on the Beach: Tales From The Happiest Hooker!

Granny Got Framed

I'm experiencing one of those times in my life when I want to put an end to certain things (habits, relationships, projects, True Blood, etc) and start something new. I can do that easily — a trait that is not always charming, but sometimes just needs to be done for the better good of my (and sometimes 'your') well-being. And trust me, when I'm over something, it shows —I don't have a strong stomach for sugary sweet facades.  After all, I am a former cholita who now checks out counted cross-stitch books at the library.

It pains me to admit this, but I'm so over this granny square blanket! It seems like I've been crocheting it for a year — but it's only been eleven months. I know I'll love it once it's completed, but right now I'm sort of sick of seeing it. I'm at the point where if I don't finish the white borders, join 'em together and frame it with a gorgeous edging by the end of next week, I will end up shoving it, undone, in a locked drawer and throwing away the key! And once it's spread out on the bed looking all pretty, I'm making a break from crocheting.

There are needlework crafts I want to immerse myself in and to go at them with the same abandon as when I was learning to knit n' crochet! I definitely know I need some distance from crochet so I can come back to it later in the year with bright eyes. The color theory I learn with these new crafts will complement my crocheting.  And I do have an awesome new ripple pattern for when it's time! I've kicked around the idea of doing the same with knitting, but since it's The Year of Fair Isle, I think I'll keep it going.

As I write this post, I'm thinking of how freakin' glad that I am bringing crafty back into my life. Was a while there when I was craftless and it made me feel pretty crappy. It might sound a bit crazy, but I keep finding myself feeling excited about something—and realizing it's because I'm going to be learning a new craft soon! And these will be projects with a lil' quicker start-to-finish time, which also means a lot more new content here on the blog! I believe it's going to be a lot of fun — so I hope you stick around!

Let's Get Baked: Nuttin' Better Peanut Butter Cookies

 

• Heat oven to 375ºF. Stir together the 1/2 cup granulated sugar , brown sugar, peanut butter, butter, shortening and egg. Stir in flour, baking soda and baking powder.
• Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll in granulated sugar. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet (parchment paper works best!).
• Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are light brown. Immediately press M&M's Hidden Mickey-style firmly in each cookie; cool on wire rack.
• Makes approximately 36 cookies.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

These are so delicious — that once the batch I baked was devoured, Marissa made some more! It's an incredibly quick n' easy Betty Crocker Peanut Butter-Chocolate Cookies recipe that has been ever-so-slightly altered by switching out the milk chocolate stars for milk chocolate M&M's! And with all the seasonal M&M's, you can bake 'em up for just about any holiday! In fact, be sure to leave a plate of 'em out for the Easter Bunny at the end of this month!

March On!

 

 

I can't believe it's March! It seems like Christmas was just last month — maybe 'cause I was still packing Santa decorations away on Valentine's Day. It was while cursing at the 93 degree weather forecast for this Saturday when it occurred to me that I have not finished a single blanket I started last year!

I keep dreamin' up new ideas and my list of projects is growing longer and longer, but I miss the thrill of showing off a completed creation! So I'm challenging myself: one new project in exchange for every finished project. This is not an attempt to 'hurry up and finish things so I can move on to the next thing.' In fact, I cannot stand that mentality. I'm all about the journey. But I do need motivation!

It's going to take a bit of tunnel vision! As I march on towards completing my granny square blanket, I'll see a color combination that would go perfect for the ripple I have planned — and I'll want to chain the foundation row then and there! I have cheated a little, though. There's a few things that have sat around unfinished for a while — and in that time I have changed my mind about liking them. So they've been unraveled. And will be replaced.

One of those things unraveled is the Crafting with the Classics :: Spirit of St. Louis Blanket. It just wasn't coming together in the way I envisioned it. I am not giving up on the idea, however! Because O.M.G. I love the idea. And I feel like I'm getting closer and closer to where it will finally click. But I have to start from scratch instead of struggling to make what I have work.

So it looks like I pretty much cleared the path and I can move on to new projects ... like right now!

Looking Down Can Cheer You Up

 I love looking on the ground for unexpected snapshots of happiness!